I certainly don't need the power. I bought my IDI because of the simplicity.
But I didn't research the downfalls and didn't test drive it first. My bad.
The 3-speed C6 doesn't seem like it would ever have not been annoying. Even when the speed limit was 55 mph. And I didn't know it was going to be so damned loud inside the cab. :-(
Most folks, including my wife, would prefer to take a different vehicle when going somewhere. (maybe that's a good thing? lol)
But I've got a truck that should work well for many years and I will usually be able to fix it myself when it doesn't (with the awesome help from all you folks here).
If it too noisy for you and your Wife, why don`t you insulate it more?
I did my 85 69, extra cab. Removed everything from the interior. Seats, Carpet and plastic wall coverings.
The Dynamat`d the whole interior. Floor and walls. Also do inside the doors.
Pricey? Ya sure, all depends what you want.
Got first box off e-bay $160
2nd box from Summit racing $165, only 60 miles from them and drove up there for it.
Then it jumped to $195...
East Wood also has it, got it for $94, also in Reno, same stuff with their name on it.
Eliminate road noise and heat by applying under carpet, door panels, inner firewall and more.
www.eastwood.com
(I did get carried away and did the 86 also, and thinking of doing the 80 MB 240D)
Throw in some carpet and a different truck.
new vehicles have more Insulation the the older stuff so lower DB`s.
As vehicles have progressed over the years, they keep adding on more gadgets and other convience`s. Use to have to Hand crank them till the electric starter came along.
Heaters were an option, till they became a standard item, then the radio, went from manual brakes with rods to Hydraulic`s. then Disk brakes were an option. Europe was using them for a long time as well as Air Planes.
When they first were added, you would have thought the U.S. Automakers had invented it.
Then power seats, and then with warmers, and maybe even with vibrators.
Power Steering, auto trans. OH, and from hand crank windows to electric to electric door locks.
Now with all the computer controlled engine stuff,
GPS, built in phone systems and the list goes on.
The more add on do dads, the more people expect them, and the higher the prices go.
People today would not buy a PU Truck that was sold back in to 50`s, 60`s, look how they look down their noses at these IDI made in the 80 - 90`s.
People really just need something to go from point A to point B.
I do not think to today you can go down to Ford and order a F-250, basic standard cab, vinale seats, rubber floor mat, crank windows, heater,
manual 4-spd, 6 cyl or small V-8.
For what new stuff costs, we should be able to option how we would want it to cut costs.
Goat